Lexus GX vs Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series

What's the difference?

The new Lexus GX 550 showcases a brand new design for its third-generation iteration but the model is new to the Australian market.

And while it hasn't been as hotly anticipated as its cousin, the Toyota Prado, it's still one that should excite. It's a capable full-time four-wheel drive that manages to look good on- and off-road! It feels like a breath of fresh air.

Will it find itself more likely adorning the garage of a city slicker? Perhaps, but you can't deny it has some star power now with its design and it couldn't have come soon enough. Especially when you compare the flagship Sports Luxury grade my family and I have on test to its European luxury rivals, the BMW X7 and Land Rover Defender.

Part of the undeniable charm of Toyota’s 70 Series LandCruisers is the fact they don’t change much, if at all. Sure, the much-loved V8 has been dropped from new 70s in recent years, and it now has LED headlights and a new multimedia system, but otherwise not a lot has been altered. And that’s good.

Because, in a world where everything is so slick, and everyone is so worried about offending someone, the 70 stands out as unapologetically being simply what it is: a boxy truck-like live-axle 4WD.

It's not pretty, it's not comfortable and it offers few, if any, real concessions to occupant safety. But it's very capable off-road and has a ton of potential as a handy touring vehicle.

Toyota has a bad habit of doing the bare minimum with its new-release vehicles, yet the loyalists keep coming back for more and new Toyota fans keep turning up, as well.

It seems this kind of ‘do nothing’ approach works wonders in terms of maintaining the appeal of something like the HiLux or 70 Series line-up.

But does it really? We tested the 2026 Toyota LandCruiser 76 Series in GXL trim to find out.

Read on.